Over $95,000.00 in cash and prizes paid out in 2016. Enter today! To participate entries must be complete prior to May 19th, same day entries may not get in!

Flaming Gorge Fish Derby

Lucerne Valley Marina is sponsoring the Flaming Gorge Fish Derby to be held May 19th & 20th, 2018. Team registration starts on May 18th, 2018 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm at Lucerne Valley Marina. Each team can consist of 1-3 people. The entry fee is $200.00 per team.

Cash & prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries. There is a 400 team limit. Derby Hats and a meal will be given to all contestants as well as great prizes including (2) Polaris 4-Wheelers, trolling motors, camping and fishing gear, gift certificates, and many more prizes totaling over $50,000 will be awarded. Payouts are based upon the number of entries.

Fish must be registered at Lucerne, Cedar Springs or northern location (TBA) weigh stations no later than one half (1/2) hour after the close of each tournament day. This means scales will close at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday & 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. No exceptions.

All entries except the Trophy Lake Trout will be based on weight, in case of a tie, length will be the determining factor.

If the Trophy Lake Trout category is not filled, the prize money will be divided and paid into the other categories.

The Derby is subject to cancellation due to weather conditions. Cancellation decision will be made by Derby officials, Lucerne Marina, the US Forest Service or Utah DWR. Anglers will be notified by Marine Band Radio, text or email.

All contestants must observe all US Coast Guard, Wyoming Game & Fish, Utah DWR, Utah State Parks, US Forest Service, and Daggett/Sweetwater County rules and regulations concerning sport fishing and safe boating on Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This includes UT & WY AIS regulations.

All of Lake Flaming Gorge is involved in the tournament. No boundaries, except for no fishing inside of the buoys of Buckboard, Lucerne & Cedar Springs Marinas.

All teams must meet back at Lucerne Valley Marina where prizes will be awarded on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at approximately 3:00 p.m. Prize money will be contingent upon 350 entries. Monies for prizes will increase or decrease depending upon the number of entries.

There will be a total team weight category for the Pup Lake Trout (see #4 of prize qualifications). All fish entered are subject to examination by fisheries biologists and derby officials.

Due to the new WY regulation – BASS MAYONLY BE CAUGHT IN UTAH WATERSand weighed at either Lucerne Valley Marina or Cedar Springs Marina. A live well for release will be set up at Lucerne Valley Marina. Any contestant caught with bass in their possession in Wyoming will be immediately disqualified from the tournament.

Per Wyoming Game & Fish: Culling is not permitted. The decision to release a fish or keep it for contest entry must be made immediately upon capture. Any fish caught that is not to be entered into the contest shall be immediately released to the water with as little injury to the fish as possible. Once a fish is put on a stringer, in a container or in a live well it cannot be released. Participants violating this rule will be disqualified.

AIS Inspection requirements: Any contest watercraft coming from out of the state of Wyoming by land from March 1 through November 30, are required to undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized AIS inspector prior to launching. Participants violating that regulation will be disqualified.

Violation of WGF regulations: All contestants must abide by all Wyoming Game and Fish regulations concerning fishing, aquatic invasive species and boating. Any participant found to violate any Game and Fish regulation from 6 PM Friday until 6 PM Sunday will be disqualified.

In Utah, trout or salmon may not be released if they have been held on a stringer, fish basket, livewell, or similar device.

PRIZE QUALIFICATION BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:

Trophy Lake Trout: Fish must be freshly caught, be a minimum length of 36” (inches) for entry eligibility. Only one (1) Lake Trout per angler may be in possession through the tournament. Lake Trout will be based on total length not weight. Ties will be determined by which fish was caught first. The large Lake Trout on Flaming Gorge are a precious resource that the Flaming Gorge Fish Derby wants to protect. We will provide a measuring stick, a special token and instructions at registration. Fishermen will measure the fish at their boat with the provided catch and release ruler and token and submit the picture clearly showing the fish, correct measurement and token to the Flaming Gorge Fish Derby via text message to the number given at registration. A member of the Derby staff will send back a message via text of receipt of the fish with the measurement information to be a valid entry into the Lake Trout category. It is the responsibility of the team member to make sure he receives a text back in confirmation of his entry. If one is not received, then the fish is not entered. If a fisherman does not have the ability to picture message then the fish will need to be entered at one of the weigh stations. Per Wyoming Game & Fish rules if the fish is entered at a weigh station then it must be harvested. Anglers fishing for trophy lake trout are restricted to using flies and lures only. Anglers fishing for trophy lake trout are not allowed to use bait. Participants violating this rule will be disqualified. (see below for more explanation)

Length qualification: Rainbow Trout, Kokanee and Brown Trout must be 18” (inches) or longer. Bass and Catfish have no size limit. Only one fish per category per angler may be entered throughout the tournament. Fish must be caught during derby hours on Lake Flaming Gorge. In case of a tie, length will prevail.

Largest fish will be the largest fish from the individual species of Bass, Kokanee, Rainbow or Brown Trout category. The largest fish by weight from one of these categories will get $2000.00. That fish will not be eligible for the 1st place in its category but the larger amount. The next fish in line in that category will then move into the 1st place species and all other fish will move up one notch. This will spread the prize money out to more contestants.

NEW CATEGORY: Pup Lake Trout Category

Team with the most weight of Lake Trout less than 25 inches wins.

Tie breaker will be the first team to weigh in the most weight of Lake Trout less than 25 inches.

Each team member may enter no more than one daily limit (8 Lake Trout less than 25 inches) during the derby whether entered wholly or partly on Saturday or Sunday.

Fish greater than 25 inches will be disqualified and will not count toward the total weight. Derby officials make the final determination.

GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION

Any returned checks.

Violations of any Wyoming/Utah fishing or boating safety regulations.

LAKE TROUT MEASUREMENT INFORMATION

Lake Trout only: The large Lake Trout on Flaming Gorge are a precious resource that the Flaming Gorge Fish Derby, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Wyoming Game & Fish want to protect. We are providing a catch and release option for entering Lake Trout into the derby this year. Lake Trout will not be weighed but will be measured for overall length. This is the only species that will be measured during the Derby.

Fish must be freshly caught and be a minimum length of 36" (inches) for entry eligibility.

Only one (1) Lake Trout per angler may be entered or in possession through the tournament.

Lake Trout will be based on total length not weight. Ties will be determined by which fish was caught first.

Anglers fishing for trophy lake trout are restricted to using flies and lures only. Anglers fishing for trophy lake trout are not allowed to use bait. Participants violating this rule will be disqualified.

There are two options to enter the Lake Trout into the Derby: Digitally and Harvest. The FG Fish Derby will provide a measuring ruler, a special token and instructions for measuring Lake Trout at registration as follows:

Digital Option – Text message picture via cell phone):

• Fishermen will measure the fish immediately upon capture with the provided measuring device and the special token included in the registration packets. A picture must be taken from a cell phone that clearly shows the entire fish, the measurement and token. Send the picture via text message to 307-780-5417 with the team number, fishermen’s name, and length to the number specified during registration. An official will send back a message via text of receipt of the fish with the measurement information and time entered in confirmation of his/her entry. It is the responsibility of the team member to make sure he receives a text back in confirmation of the entry. If a text confirmation is not received from a Derby official then the fish is not entered and the fish should immediately be taken to one of the three (3) weigh stations. As a general rule keep the fish out of the water no more than 60 seconds - shorter is better. The more time the fish spend out of the water the more likely it will die after release. We recommend holding the fish in the water in a landing net while you wait for entry confirmation.

Harvest Option:

If a team member does not have the ability to picture message then the fish will need to be entered at one of the weigh stations. Per Wyoming Game & Fish and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources regulations, fish entered at a weigh station must be dead prior to leaving the lake.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Derby Captains must present the Boater Aware Certification from Utah Division of Wildlife Resources with their entry fee and no later at registration. Computers will NOT be available to complete this certification at the event and the team will be disqualified without a refund of entry fees.